By Investors Hub
The major European markets have also turned mixed on the day. While the U.K.?s FTSE 100 Index has dipped by 0.3 percent, the German DAX Index is just above the unchanged line and the French CAC 40 Index is up by 0.3 percent.
Antofagasta has rallied after the mining giant nearly doubled its 2017 dividend after reporting a sharp rise in earnings.
E.ON has also moved sharply higher after the German utility announced a special dividend to shareholders after posting turnaround results for 2017.
Meanwhile, French telecom firm Iliad has slumped after its net profit stayed essentially flat in 2017. Veolia has also declined after sovereign wealth developer Qatari Diar sold its stake in the utility group.
Specialty chemical producer Wacker Chemie has plunged after saying it aims to lift its 2018 sales by a low single-digit percentage.
Re-insurer Hannover has also come under pressure after its group net income for fiscal year 2017 declined to 958.6 million euros.